NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED

BUSINESS
The Independent Contractor in the New Freelance Economy
By Katie Vlietstra, Contributor
Small business advocate
You most likely have used Uber to get you where you want, or NoWait to snag a reservation at a hot, new restaurant, or bought gifts through the online marketplace Etsy. These services are part of a growing and on-demand business demographic called the "freelance economy."
SMALL BUSINESS
Three Buckets of Small Business Attention
By Katie Vlietstra, Contributor
Small business advocate
The small business community, including self-employed and micro-businesses, welcomed a major benefit this tax year: a new, streamlined IRS home office standardized deduction.
SMALL BUSINESS
Women and the Small Business Workforce
By Katie Vlietstra, Contributor
Small business advocate
Just as women face challenges at leading companies and within its ranks, the situation is strikingly similar among the small business community. Again, women are a growing and dominant group among the self-employed, but encounter challenges in opening and growing their own small business.
SMALL BUSINESS
Passing the Health Care Buck
By Katie Vlietstra, Contributor
Small business advocate
The addition of this new health care tax will add to the operating costs of the small business community in Washington, D.C. It's not unreasonable to assume that this new tax on health insurance carriers is going to be passed along to the individual policyholder's premium costs.
SMALL BUSINESS
Will You Support Your Favorite Small Business?
By Katie Vlietstra, Contributor
Small business advocate
The bottom-line: America's small business community continues to play on an unfair and unequal field when contrasted with their corporate counterparts.
SMALL BUSINESS
Encouraging Self-Employment Should Be a Focal Point of the New Small Business Administrator
By Katie Vlietstra, Contributor
Small business advocate
Our nation's smallest businesses -- the self-employed and micro-businesses -- represent the heart and soul of America's middle class. Yet, America's small businesses face critical challenges that prevent them from opening, growing and expanding.
POLITICS
Small Firms Are Ready for Immigration Reform
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
As lawmakers move forward with immigration reform, they must consider both the financial and business impact it will have on America's smallest businesses.
SMALL BUSINESS
Stop Playing Chicken With America's Future
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
America's self-employed and micro business owners are hard-working individuals who put their blood, sweat and tears into their work. All they want to do is be successful. Congress, the Administration and state governments should do everything in their power to help them achieve success.
BUSINESS
Mr. President, Focus on the 'Baffle Rule,' not the 'Buffett Rule'
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
Tax credits don't work to encourage behavior if Americans can't understand them, so let's get Congress and the president to enact the "Baffle Rule" this year, so that our taxes for next year are friendlier and less baffling to the self-employed and small businesses.
SMALL BUSINESS
State of the Union: A "Level Playing Field" Must Include the Self-Employed Agenda
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
If the President and Congress are really serious about ensuring a fair tax code, they'll take action on the tax and other policy changes that level the playing field for the foundation of the American economy: the self-employed.
BUSINESS
Small Business Planning During an Uncertain Economy
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
The self-employed and small-business owners of America encourage Congress to extend the payroll tax cuts for an entire year so there's one less thing we have to accommodate for in our plans for success.
BUSINESS
Extending the Payroll Tax Cuts Into 2012
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
As 2011 comes to a close, so does the payroll tax cut for millions of Americans. If Congress does not come to an agreement, we'll start out 2012 by paying higher taxes.
BUSINESS
Reducing the National Debt While Keeping Small Businesses Top of Mind
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
It is our hope that the super committee will be able to come to a consensus that will alleviate the national debt and work in the favor of one of America's largest economic strongholds -- small businesses.
BUSINESS
Refined Tax Code Will Stimulate Entrepreneurship
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert
A corporation is able to write off its employees' health insurance, lowering its taxable income. Self-employed business owners, on the other hand, must pay for health insurance with post-tax dollars.
BUSINESS
Self-Employment Keeps the Unemployment Rolls Low
By Kristie Arslan, Contributor
Small Business Owner & Expert